If the Right to Education Act is implemented properly in all schools, students from the marginalised sections will be greatly benefited. Another important fact is financial support for education. The student could achieve this feat only because of the scholarship scheme;
“The Government should make sure that grants are disbursed on time and deserving students should not have to wait,” said S. Balakrishnan, Director, Vergal Education Trust, Madurai.
When asked about special coaching programmes for students from underprivileged sections who are writing the Plus Two exams, Chief Educational Officer C. Amuthavalli said that there are no such programmes under government schemes; each school conducts special programmes. “We offer career counselling guidance for successful Plus Two students at district level and it is open to all students.”
There are a number of scholarship schemes for the underprivileged. For example, among the Adi Dravidar, Tribal and Adi Dravidar Christian converts, students who secure the highest marks in the public examinations are awarded prize money both at the state and district levels. They are also eligible for grants to pursue higher studies. These schemes need to be popularised among students and parents drawn from socially disadvantaged sections of society, said District Officer, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Madurai.
